Responding to and assisting during medical emergency event using data from ear-wearable devices

Abstract

A computing system makes a first preliminary determination that a user of an ear-wearable device is experiencing a potential medical event based on first signals generated by first sensors. The computing system may make a second preliminary determination that the user is experiencing the potential medical event based on a user response captured by the ear-wearable device. The computing system may further determine that the user is experiencing the potential medical event based on both the first preliminary determination and the second preliminary determination. In response to determining that the user is experiencing the potential medical event, the computing system may cause the ear-wearable device to send a wireless communication request to a plurality of companion devices. Furthermore, in response to the wireless communication request being accepted by a companion device, the computing system may send user data via a communication link.

1 . A method comprising:
 obtaining, by a processing system, first signals that are generated by one or more first sensors that are included in an ear-wearable device;   making a first preliminary determination, by the processing system, that a user of the ear-wearable device is experiencing a potential medical event based on the first signals;   making a second preliminary determination, by the processing system, that the user of the ear-wearable device is experiencing the potential medical event based on a user response captured by the ear-wearable device;   determining, by the processing system, that the user of the ear-wearable device is experiencing the potential medical event based on both the first preliminary determination and the second preliminary determination;   in response to determining that the user of the ear-wearable device is experiencing the potential medical event, sending, from the ear-wearable device to a plurality of companion devices, a wireless communication request; and   in response to the wireless communication request being accepted by a companion device of the plurality of companion devices, sending user data via a communication link between the companion device and the ear-wearable device, wherein the user data comprises information generated based on second signals generated by one or more second sensors that are included in the ear-wearable device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprises:
 in response to the first preliminary determination being that the user of the ear-wearable device is experiencing the potential medical event, providing an audible message to the user via the ear-wearable device.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the user response captured by the ear-wearable device comprises a non-response to the audible message for a pre-defined time period. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user response captured by the ear-wearable device comprises at least a voice response or an action response. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user data further comprises one or more of location of the ear-wearable device, user profile information of the user of the ear-wearable device, or emergency contact information of the user of the ear-wearable device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user data further comprises one or more of heart rate, respiration rate, blood glucose level, or oxygen saturation. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first signals comprise one or more of inertial measurement unit (IMU) signals and photoplethysmography (PPG) signals. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second signals comprise one or more of electroencephalography (EEG) signals and electrocardiogram (ECG) signals. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication request comprises a BLUETOOTH pairing request, and wherein the communication link comprises a BLUETOOTH communication link. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein making the first preliminary determination that the user of the ear-wearable device is experiencing the potential medical event based on the first signals comprises:
 generating a health score based on the first signals;   comparing the health score with a health threshold; and   determining that the user of the ear-wearable device is experiencing the potential medical event based on the health score failing to satisfy the health threshold.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 sending an audio notification related to the user's health via the communication link between the companion device and the ear-wearable device.   
     
     
         12 . A computing system comprising:
 a data storage system configured to store user data related to a user of an ear-wearable device; and   one or more processors implemented in circuitry, the one or more processors configured to:
 obtain first signals that are generated by one or more first sensors that are included in the ear-wearable device; 
 make a first preliminary determination that the user of the ear-wearable device is experiencing a potential medical event based on the first signals; 
 make a second preliminary determination that the user of the ear-wearable device is experiencing the potential medical event based on a user response captured by the ear-wearable device; 
 determine that the user of the ear-wearable device is experiencing the potential medical event based on both the first preliminary determination and the second preliminary determination; 
 in response to determining that the user of the ear-wearable device is experiencing the potential medical event, send, from the ear-wearable device to a plurality of companion devices, a wireless communication request; and 
 in response to the wireless communication request being accepted by a companion device of the plurality of companion devices, send the user data via a communication link between the companion device and the ear-wearable device, wherein the user data comprises information generated based on second signals generated by one or more second sensors that are included in the ear-wearable device. 
   
     
     
         13 . The computing system of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
 in response to the first preliminary determination being that the user of the ear-warble device is experiencing the potential medical event, provide an audible message to the user via the ear-wearable device.   
     
     
         14 . The computing system of  claim 12 , wherein the user response captured by the ear-wearable device comprises at least a voice response or an action response. 
     
     
         15 . The computing system of  claim 12 , wherein the user data further comprises one or more of location of the ear-wearable device, user profile information of the user of the ear-wearable device, or emergency contact information of the user of the ear-wearable device. 
     
     
         16 . The computing system of  claim 12 , wherein the user data further comprises one or more of heart rate, respiration rate, blood glucose level, or oxygen saturation. 
     
     
         17 . The computing system of  claim 12 , wherein the first signals comprise one or more of IMU signals and PPG signals. 
     
     
         18 . The computing system of  claim 12 , wherein the second signals comprise one or more of EEG signals and ECG signals. 
     
     
         19 . The computing system of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
 send an audio notification related to the user's health via the communication link between the companion device and the ear-wearable device.   
     
     
         20 . An ear-wearable device comprising:
 one or more processors implemented in circuitry, the one or more processors configured to:
 obtain first signals that are generated by one or more first sensors that are included in the ear-wearable device; 
 make a first preliminary determination that a user of the ear-wearable device is experiencing a potential medical event based on the first signals; 
 make a second preliminary determination that the user of the ear-wearable device is experiencing the potential medical event based on a user response captured by the ear-wearable device; 
 determine that the user of the ear-wearable device is experiencing the potential medical event based on both the first preliminary determination and the second preliminary determination; 
 in response to determining that the user of the ear-wearable device is experiencing the potential medical event, send, from the ear-wearable device to a plurality of companion devices, a wireless communication request; and 
 in response to the wireless communication request being accepted by a companion device of the plurality of companion devices, send user data via a communication link between the companion device and the ear-wearable device, wherein the user data comprises information generated based on second signals generated by one or more second sensors that are included in the ear-wearable device. 
   
     
     
         21 . A non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause one or more processing circuits to:
 obtain first signals that are generated by one or more first sensors that are included in an ear-wearable device;   make a first preliminary determination that a user of the ear-wearable device is experiencing a potential medical event based on the first signals;   make a second preliminary determination that the user of the ear-wearable device is experiencing the potential medical event based on a user response captured by the ear-wearable device;   determine that the user of the ear-wearable device is experiencing the potential medical event based on both the first preliminary determination and the second preliminary determination;   in response to determining that the user of the ear-wearable device is experiencing the potential medical event, send, from the ear-wearable device to a plurality of companion devices, a wireless communication request; and   in response to the wireless communication request being accepted by a companion device of the plurality of companion devices, send user data via a communication link between the companion device and the ear-wearable device, wherein the user data comprises information generated based on second signals generated by one or more second sensors that are included in the ear-wearable device.